Bolabiu gives up contract

FIJI Rugby Union's top referee James Bolabiu has given up his contract with Digicel as a result of Rugby House signing up with Vodafone.

Bolabiu has been a Digicel brand ambassador for the past three years.

He said as a staff member of FRU he had to adhere to the terms and conditions of his employer.

The Kadavu native said the decision to give up his contract was in line with the switch in FRU sponsorship.

"I am an employee of FRU and because of the change of sponsor to Vodafone, I had to give up my Digicel contract," said Bolabiu.

"I have to honour my employer because it is through Fiji rugby that I have been able to reach where I am now.

"As in this case, I will give up my contract as Digicel's brand ambassador."

Bolabiu said he had discussed the contract issue with FRU chairman Filimoni Waqabaca.

"I have informed chairman whichever company is associated with rugby I will go with it."

In an interview with Waqabaca last weekend, he said Rugby House would not entertain national reps who held individual contracts with companies that were in competition with their main sponsor, Vodafone.

"We will now move on to the next sponsor which is Vodafone and everything related to rugby will have to move in the similar direction as well," said Waqabaca.

"As per the contract, we are not supposed to be promoting any other product that is in competition with this main sponsor."

Bolabiu said he would write to Digicel to thank the company for supporting his career as a referee over the past three years.

"It's been an honour to be a brand ambassador for Digicel for the past three years and I thank them for having faith in me," he said.

"I will soon be writing to Digicel to thank them for their support over the past three years.

"It's a new year and a new sponsor and I also thank Vodafone for teaming up with FRU. I think it is the biggest sponsorship ever."